Staff Writer
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) engaged agriculture and marketing authorities at Chikurubi Farm to strengthen production, improve market linkages and explore opportunities for technical support.
The engagement brought together Director of the Livestock, Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Department in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Milton Makumbe, officials from the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) and dairy producers.
Deputy Commissioner-General responsible for Production and Business Management, Social Ndanga, led the ZPCS delegation during the engagement.
The delegation toured the dairy milk production unit, piggery section and abattoir, where it assessed production processes, record-keeping systems and value-addition activities.
The discussions focused on exchanging information, monitoring progress and exploring improved marketing strategies for products produced through ZPCS agricultural ventures.
DCG Ndanga said productive rehabilitation projects were critical in equipping inmates with practical skills while contributing to institutional self-sustenance.
“We appreciated the support from FARD and AMA. These projects not only improved production but also ensured that offenders gained skills they could use when they eventually returned to their communities,” he said.
Harare Metropolitan Province Officer Commanding, Commissioner Ernest Pambayi, said the collaboration supported the ZPCS mandate of rehabilitation, reintegration and self-sustenance.
“This collaboration with FARD, AMA and Water Resource Authority showed that rehabilitation went beyond prison walls. When inmates acquired livestock and food production skills, they were better prepared for reintegration and for contributing to the national economy,” said Commissioner Pambayi.
Makumbe commended ZPCS for the progress it had made in livestock and food production, saying the dairy and meat value chains had the potential to improve nutrition while generating additional income for the organisation.
He pledged continued support through technical training, monitoring and expertise-sharing to improve production and value addition.
AMA’s involvement was expected to strengthen market access and help identify viable marketing channels for products from ZPCS production ventures.
The engagement concluded with discussions on expanding inmate training in dairy processing, piggery management and meat handling.
FARD and AMA reaffirmed their commitment to working with ZPCS to ensure production at Chikurubi Farm met institutional requirements while creating opportunities to supply mainstream markets.
ZPCS Facebook Page/Staff Writer